Is 700 MPH public transportation realistic?

An image released by Tesla Motors, is a sketch of the Hyperloop capsule with passengers onboard. . Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk on Monday, Aug. 12, 2013 unveiled a concept for a transport system he says would make the nearly 400-mile trip in half the time it takes an airplane. The "Hyperloop" system would use a large tube with capsules inside that would float on air, traveling at over 700 miles per hour. (AP Photo/Tesla Motors)
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An image released by Tesla Motors, is a sketch of the Hyperloop capsule with passengers onboard. . Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk on Monday, Aug. 12, 2013 unveiled a concept for a transport system he says would make the nearly 400-mile trip in half the time it takes an airplane. The "Hyperloop" system would use a large tube with capsules inside that would float on air, traveling at over 700 miles per hour. (AP Photo/Tesla Motors)
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Marney Cox, San Diego Association of Governments

Elon Musk's proposal for the Hyperloop is not asking for the U.S. to embrace the travel technology. Mr. Musk believes there is a consumer market that will pay to use his transport system because it is four times faster and about 10 times less expensive than the proposed U.S.-embraced alternative transportation technology, the bullet train. To his credit, he's an entrepreneur willing to finance the risky venture, build a prototype, and the engineers behind Hyperloop are the ones behind two of his other successful ventures, SpaceX and Tesla. Consumers could benefit without taxpayers being on the hook if it fails.

Yes
84% (103)

No
16% (20)

Kelly Cunningham, National University Systems

Government simply does not have a good track record attempting to pick winning and losing technologies. Even if the Hyperloop worked perfectly, it would not be surprising if travelers balk at being whisked inside a pneumatic tube at 700 mph. That said, what is also true is California continues to grow, with the state projecting 12.3 million more residents to be added by 2050. What government needs to do is lower regulatory barriers so that potential new technologies, such as Musk's, can be pursued to accommodate moving a much larger population efficiently, effectively, and safely around the Golden State.

Alan Gin, University of San Diego

It’s at least worth investigating, even though many people think Elon Musk is too optimistic in his projections. If successful, it would boost the economy in three ways: First, construction of the hyperloop would put a lot of people to work, both in terms of the design and in the actual construction of the project. Second, the reduced time and cost to travel would increase the efficiency of the economy, much as the interstate highway system did in the 1950s. Finally, like the space program, work on this project could lead to technological breakthroughs and spinoffs that could help the rest of the economy.

James Hamilton, University of California San Diego

At this point the idea is just a sketch as opposed to something you could start to build a budget around. We've all seen how costs for public projects start to grow enormously once we get to putting shovels into the ground, and I would be astonished if this idea could actually deliver what it claims for a cost of $6 billion. I applaud Mr. Musk for thinking big. But for now it strikes me as an idea for visionary entrepreneurs to tinker with rather than something to invest in with huge public sums.

Gary London, The London Group Realty Advisors

Fixed rail is good now for some applications, but at the stupendous cost of new infrastructure, especially in California's plans, it makes sense to do a technological hyperleap for both economic and practical reasons. New technologies, or in economic terms "creative destruction." have a way of exploding new economic opportunities. However, for me, right now I just want a new Tesla.

Norm Miller, University of San Diego

We should remain open-minded to all alternatives. This particular proposal seems to suggest significant cost savings compared to Prop 1A, a $68 billion high speed train proposal passed in 2008 and approved in 2012 and at three times the speed. Elon Musk has proved skeptics wrong too many times to discount any of his ideas. It may require some political backpeddling, but if this idea proves feasible, it could greatly enhance the California economy and make day trips feasible all along the coast. Think of the implications of moving goods at 600-plus mph across the country. So, this could be revolutionary, not just for people travel but moving goods as well.

Lynn Reaser, Point Loma Nazarene University

If "embrace" means subsidize with public funds and taxpayer dollars, the answer is no. The same answer applies to Californiaís much more expensive high-speed rail transit project. The Hyperloop concept is a fascinating technology with significant economic potential. However, private investors can be expected to step forward to explore that potential. They are the appropriate players to supply the funds and assume the risks. Consumers might not want to be crammed into a small enclosed pod for even thirty minutes, causing take-up, at least initially, to be slow. But the market can and should decide.

Dan Seiver, Reilly Financial Advisors

I am not one to bet against Musk, cofounder of Paypal and the brains behind Tesla and SpaceX. They scoffed at Fulton, too. But the Hyperloop is pure scientific speculation. Once a successful prototype is built (if ever, since Musk may not do it), there should be plenty of venture capital money to back the project, especially if it can be built for $6 billion. Taxpayers should not be on the hook for this. But if it is built, I would love to travel in it at 800 mph and get from LA to San Fran in 30 mins.